Folding frame for trucks.



No. 702,801. Patented lune l7, |902.

P. .1. KREMER.

FOLDING FRAME FOB TRUCKS (Applicationfiled Mar. 17, 1902.) (No Medal.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented lune l7, I902;

P. J. KREMER. FOLDING FRAME FOR TRUCKS.

(Application filed Mar. 17,1902) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

m u m mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP J. KREMER, or SOMERTON, OHIO.

FOLDING FRAME FOR TRUCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,801, dated June 17, 1902. Application filed March l7, 1902. Serial No. 98,710. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom, it may concerm Be it known that I, PHILIP J. KREMER, of Somerton, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Frames for Trucks; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved folding frame for trucks, pedestals, tables, 850., particularly designed for undertakers use; and its object is to provide a frame which can be folded into small compass for transportation and can be expanded where and when desired to be used, which will maintain its expanded form and be light, handsome, and durable.

In the drawings 1 have illustrated the invention as embodied in an undertakers truck; but the frame can be utilized for pedestals, embalming-tables, and other uses, and therefore I do not restrict my invention to use in or as a truck.

The various features and combinations of parts constituting the invention and for which protection is asked are summarized in the claims following the description, andl will proceed to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the truck-ex tended; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof; Fig. 3, an end view. Fig. 4. is a View of the truck folded. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the caster, showing the manner of fastening to the legs of the truck.

The frame has four uprights or legs A,which are preferably made of L angle-iron, with the apex of the angle outermost. The adjoining pair of legs A at the same side of machine are united by a lazy-tongs connection composed of two intersecting bars B B and two bars 0 C, connecting the upper ends of the bars with the upper ends of the adjacent legs. The lower ends of bars B B are pivoted to the legs, near the lower ends thereof, as at a. The upper ends of the bars intersect and at a point about one-fourth of their length (from the top) are pivoted together, as at b. The inner ends of bars 0 are pivoted to the upper ends of bars B, as at c, and their other ends are pivoted to the upper ends of the legs A, as at a.

The distances between points a and points 0 are such that the legs in folding will remain parallel. The adjoining legs A- A at the ends of the frame are similarly connected by lazyton gs levers composed of pivotally-connected intersecting bars B and top bars 0, which are constructed and connected like bars B C, but are slightly shorter than the latter, so that the ends of frame are narrower than the sides thereof when extended. The connected bars 0 and B and B O are pivoted to opposite legs, however. To prevent undue spreading of the tongs, the bars B B are connected below the pivot b by folding stays composed of two members D D, pivoted together at d and at their opposite ends pivoted to bars B at d. The pivot d is preferably slightly displaced from the center, so as to permit a closer folding of the frame, and the members D may be slightly bowed inwardly, so that an ornament (1 may be placed thereon exterior to pivot d, as indicated in the drawings. The bars B B of the end tongs may be likewise connected by a folding stay D, similar to stay D, and connected to the bars B below their intersection. As a further means for bracing and stiffening the frame when extended, braces E may be connected to the upper ends of the legs A, as indicated at e in Fig. 2, and their inner ends connected to a ring E at center of the frame.

These braces E may be flexible, and I propose to use leather straps for such braces, but do not restrict myself to flexible straps. The braces E when the frame is extended lie in a horizontal plane and brace the frame transversely and diagonally, and altogether the frame when extended will be stiff and strong. When used as a truck-frame, the legs are provided with rollers or casterg on their lower ends, as shown. The rollers F at one end may be fixed to the legs. The other rollers F are preferably swiveled on the legs. This enables the truck to be readily turned without making it unsteady.

When used as a truck to support caskets, I preferably make the side bars 0 extend beyond the legs, as indicated in Fig. 1, these extended portions 0 of said bars serving as handles to manipulate the truck readily and serving another purpose hereinafter explained. The extensions 0 may be connected to the legs by braces G, which are preferably formed of two bowed members pivoted together at g and at their other ends respectively pivoted to the outer part of the adjacent extension C as at g, and to the lower part of the adjacent leg A, as shown at g". The brace members G may be straight, but are preferably curved for ornamental purposes. These braces are not indispensable, but give a lengthy appearance to the truck, which is quite desirable.

WVhen the frame is folded it occupies very little space, and when made of metal can be made of slender proportions, presentinga neat appearance and having ample strength. The extensions 0 perform a useful office when the device is used as a truck for caskets, in that after the casket is placed on the truck the latter can be tilted by simply depressing or lifting on the end of casket. The extensions 0 prevent the bars 0 turning on their pivots (1. Consequently the truck is kept extended, and if the end of the casket be depressed the other end of truck maybe tilted off the floor, while if either end of the casket be raised the adjacent end of truck will also rise. This feature is quite useful in moving caskets from one room to another and over slight obstructions in the floors and halls of buildings.

The parts may be finished and ornamented in any desired way not interfering with the folding and extension of the frame. The size and proportions of parts is immaterial and will be varied to suit the use for which the frame is to be employed, and therefore I do not restrict myself to the particular dimensions and form shown in the drawings.

I refer to the following claims for a concise summary of parts for which protection is asked.

I claim 1. Afolding frame for trucks, 850., comprising four legs, and a lazy-tongs connection between each adjacent pair of legs, both at the sides and ends of the frame, comprising intersecting bars pivotally connected together at their intersection, and also pivotally connected at theirlower ends to the lower portions of the legs, and opposite bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of said intersecting bars and to the upper ends of the leg to which the intersecting bar is not attached, substantially as described.

2. A folding truck, comprising four legs, a lazy-tongs connection between each adjacent pairof legs, each connection comprising two intersecting bars pivotally connected at their intersection, and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower portions of the legs, and bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of said intersecting bars and to the upper ends of the adjacent legs; with stays connecting the intersecting levers below their intersection.

3. In a frame, the combination of four uprights, a lazy-tongs connection between the adjacent legs at each side of the frame, comprising intersecting bars pivoted together at their intersection and pivoted at their lower ends to the opposite legs, and bars pivoted to the upper ends of said legs, and at their inner ends pivoted to the upper ends of the intersecting bar connected to the opposite leg, said bars projecting beyond the legs at the side opposite the intersecting bars, substantially as described.

4. A folding frame for trucks, dvc. compris ing four legs, and a lazy-tongs connection between each adjacent pair of legs, both at the sides and ends of the frame, comprising intersecting bars pivotally connected together at their intersection, and also pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower portions of the legs, and opposite bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of said intersecting bars, and to the upper ends of the leg to which the intersecting bar is not attached; with braces between the upper ends of the legs, substantially as described.

5. A folding truck, comprising four legs, a lazy-tongs connection between each adjacent pair of legs, each connection comprising two intersecting bars pivotally connected at their intersection, and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower portions of the legs, and bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of said intersecting bars and to the upper ends of the adjacent legs; with stays conmeeting the intersecting levers below their intel-section; and stays connecting the outwardly-extending portions of said bars to the lower ends of the adjacent legs, substantially as described.

6. A folding truck, comprising four legs, a lazy-tongs connection between each adjacent pair of legs, each connection comprising two intersecting bars pivotally connected at their intersection, and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower portions of the legs, and bars pivotally connected to the upper ends of said intersecting bars and to the upper ends of the adjacent legs; with stays connecting the intersecting levers below their intersection; and braces connecting the upper ends of the legs.

7. In a frame, the combination of four uprights, a lazy-tongs connection between the adjacent legs at each side of the frame, comprising intersecting bars pivoted together at their intersection and pivotedat their lower ends to the opposite legs, and bars pivoted to the upper ends of said legs, and at their inner ends pivoted to the upper ends of the intersecting bar connected to the opposite leg, said bars projecting beyond the legs at the side opposite the intersecting bars; and the diagonal braces between the upper ends of the legs, substantially as described.

8. In a frame, the combination of the four uprights, the lazy-tongs connection between the adjacent legs at each side and end of the frame, composed of intersecting bars pivoted together at their intersection and pivoted at their lower ends to the opposite legs, and top bars pivoted to the upper ends of said legs, and at their inner ends pivoted to the upper ends of the intersecting bar connected to the opposite leg, the top bars at the sides extending beyond the legs; with folding braces connecting the intersecting bars below their points of intersection, and the folding stays connecting the outwardly-extending portions of said bars to the lower ends of the adjacent legs, substantially as described.

9. In a frame, the combination of the four uprights, the lazy-tongs connection between the adjacent legs at each side and end of the frame, composed of intersecting bars pivoted together at their intersection and pivoted at their lower ends to the opposite legs, and top bars pivoted to the upper ends of said legs,

and at their inner ends pivoted to the upper ends of the intersecting bar connected to the opposite leg, the top bars at the sides extending beyond the legs; with folding braces connecting the intersecting bars below their points of intersection, and the holding-stays connecting the outwardly-extending portions of said bars to the lower ends of the adjacent legs, and horizontally-disposed fold able braces connecting the upper ends of the legs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP J. KREMER.

In presence of- M. G. HARRIS, A. B. Moonn. 

